Colin Mang receives King Charles III Coronation Medal

Have you ever wondered what your professor does in their spare time? We’re always delighted to share our faculty and their accomplishments, and this isn’t one we see every day!

Assistant Professor Colin Mang was recognized this summer for ongoing community work, receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his work with Stonegate Community Health Centre (CHC). This medal is reserved for those who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada.

“When I started volunteering in public service, I never expected to win a medal. I just wanted to make our community a better place and encourage others to do the same,” he said.

Mang admitted the medal was a nice surprise, but never something he expected. When Colin first joined the Department of Economics here at Mac, he told us about his work at Stonegate, his passion for helping his community, and ensuring access to care for all. Stonegate CHC is committed to identifying and helping the well-being and care of the Stonegate-Parklawn community in Toronto/ Etobicoke. It was clear then, and it is clear now, we’re not the only ones who can see his devotion to community improvement.

Colin is an econometrician, and economist who focuses on applied econometrics, microeconomics and economic issues. He understands the economic nuances acutely impacting the individual. But his work doesn’t stop on this campus. He sees gaps in the world around us, barriers for access of housing, care, and finances. And he fills the spaces he can, bridging those gaps.  

We often say in economics, “if you want to change the world, to write the policy, become an economist”. Colin Mang isn’t stopping there, he’s changing the data, in a small, direct way, he’s making his community a better place to be.

Colin has been a board member at Stonegate for the last six years. He sat as the Vice President of the board from 2021 to 2023, and spent the last two years as President and Board Chair. 

He worked heavily with the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, co-organizing the City of Toronto’s Vaccine Engagement Team (VET’s) for Central and South Etobicoke. This included organizing over 100 pop-up vaccination clinics helping seniors, low-income residents and marginalized communities have access to vaccines. These pop-ups were crucial to increase vaccine confidence, access to resources and amplifying the pressing public health messaging. 

These teams had many goals, with a particular focus on increasing vaccine equity, recognizing the disproportionate impacts COVID-19 had on marginalized communities. In the first year, the Central and South Etobicoke team administered over 3500 vaccines.    

In addition to his work at Stonegate CHC, he has a few more tricks up his sleeve addressing gaps in healthcare and community! He is the Board Chair of the Central Etobikcoke Community Hub Initiative, a not-for-profit organization that campaigns for improved social services. Also, the co-organizer of the Etobicoke Community Fair, a showcase for not-for-profit service providers that draws dozens of agencies and hundreds of residents each year to promote community engagement.

In the Department of Economics, we’re always encouraging our students to get involved in their community. Be active, and engaged. Bridge the gaps, and where the gaps are too large, fill the space to make it smaller. You may have heard that it takes a village to raise a child. Something crucial in this, that many forget, for this to succeed, you have to be a villager.  

Are you in the Etobicoke area and want to get involved? You can visit the Central Etobicoke Community Hub Initiative for ways to be involved. As well, you can stay up to date with Colin on Instagram and X to know what’s happening in the world of Economics, and community engagement!